Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
MONTCLAIR, NJ – The Rowan University softball team split a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) doubleheader at Montclair State University on Saturday. The Red Hawks had a 2-0 shutout in the first game while the Profs won the second, 11-7 in eight innings.
Rowan has a 26-5 record with a 6-4 conference mark. Montclair State is 28-3 overall and 9-1 in the NJAC. In the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, the Red Hawks were ranked 15th while the Profs were 17th.
Right-hander Alex Hill (so. Parsipanny, NJ/Parsippany Hills) recorded her seventh shutout on the season. Hill (17-0) only gave up four hits and she struck out seven batters. Righty Jamie Minix (sr. Clarksboro, NJ/Kingsway Reg.) took the loss. Minix (10-4) allowed two earned runs on eight hits.
Hill went two for three with a double, one RBI and one run scored. First baseman Alisha Cumberton (so. Toms River, NJ/Toms River E.) contributed with a double (three at bats) and one RBI. Left fielder Jamie Paulino (jr. Linden, NJ/Linden) collected two hits in three at bats. Center fielder Shannon Mozek (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) chipped in with one hit and one run scored.
Catcher Nicolina Veneziano (sr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) and shortstop Ashley Minch (sr. Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Mem.) each had one hit for Rowan. Designated player Katie Trotter (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and second baseman Nicole Escudero (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) both recorded a double.
Montclair State scored both of its runs in the first inning. Mozek had a leadoff double to left field. She went to third on a ground out and came home on Hill’s base hit to center field. Cumberton followed with a double that scored Hill.
In the second contest, the Red Hawks had three runs in the seventh, which tied the score at five. Rowan scored six runs in the top half of the eighth while Montclair State had two in the bottom.
Right-hander LeAnne Miller (jr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) pitched a complete game for the victory. Miller (13-1) gave up four earned runs on seven hits and she totaled 10 strikeouts. Hill had the loss in relief. She threw 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs, five earned.
First baseman Stephanie Labas (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) went three for five with two runs scored for the Profs. Trotter collected two hits (five at bats), two RBIs and one run scored. Left fielder Jennifer Arcella (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) totaled three hits (five at bats) and two RBIs. Center fielder Megan Becker (sr. Collingdale, PA/Academy Park) chipped in with one hit and two RBIs. Right fielder Lauren Davis (sr. Ewing, NJ/Ewing) registered two hits (three at bats), two RBIs and two runs scored. Escudero added two hits and scored three runs.
For the Red Hawks, Hill went two for four with a double and one RBI. Mozek had one hit in two trips to the plate, one RBI and one run scored. Second baseman Katie Muglia (so. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) posted one hit, one RBI and two runs scored. Pinch hitter/shortstop Tara Petrucelli (fr. Nutley, NJ/Nutley) had one hit and two RBIs.
In the eighth, third baseman Julie Leskanic (sr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford) was placed on second base because of the international tie-breaker rule. Escudero led off with a bunt single and stole second after Leskanic went to third. Davis scored Leskanic with a single to left field and Escudero crossed the plate on an error. Trotter plated Davis with a bunt single. Arcella knocked in two runs with a base hit to left field. Minch came home on Becker’s base hit.
The Red Hawks started the eighth with right fielder Stephanie Szeliga (sr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) on second. Mozek had a lead off walk and both runners advanced on an error with Paulino at bat. Third baseman Dana Amato (so. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) walked, scoring Szeliga. Hill had a sacrifice fly to center field, which brought Mozek home.
Montclair State had a 2-0 lead after two innings. Rowan went ahead with three runs in the third. Davis’ single up the middle, scored Escudero. Trotter and Minch each had a RBI single. The Profs were up 5-2 after one run in the fourth and seventh innings. Veneziano knocked in Escudero with a base hit in the fourth and Labas scored on a fielder’s choice in the seventh with Becker at the plate.
In the seventh, Muglia reached on a fielder’s choice and pinch runner Caroline Murphy (fr. Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen) came home. Petrucelli recorded a two RBI single to center field. Cumberton scored and Muglia crossed the plate for the tying run.
Next, Rowan plays at conference opponent Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday, April 17 at 3 p.m.
